Last year, Franklin Township Community School Corp. imposed a fee of $475 per child for bus transportation for the 2011-2012 school year because of budget cuts.

The school district outsourced bus transportation to the Central Indiana Educational Service Center, but state lawmakers later banned school bus fees, even through a third party, RTV6’s Julie Pursley reported.

Superintendent Flora Reichanadter said the district was able to refinance and restructure its debt to free up more funds for transportation.

“The buses were purchased from CIESC last year, and we purchased them back for $1. (This year) we were fortunate enough to be able to put out our bus schedules early enough for parents to take a look at them. So that way, if there were any questions about the routes, we were able to take care of that,” Reichanadter said.

Franklin Township parents said they were relieved that the transportation issue was resolved this year, after they waited in long drop-off car pool lines last year on the first day of school.

“I think it's going to be a lot calmer (this year). Things are going to go smoother, and there's going to be happy parents,” parent Suzanne Smith said.

"It will be a lot easier (this year), especially dealing with the traffic to school in the morning. We won't have to wait and sit in a long line to drop off kids,” parent Chelsy Wynne said. "I'm glad because it will be better for the parents who don't have the extra time to take the kids to school in the morning."

Along with transportation, other changes in the district include students beginning a balanced calendar schedule this year -- a shorter summer vacation and longer breaks throughout the year.